By Kevin Lee Associate Editor

Consider the following:

Linda Zoghby – A Mobile native who made triumphant starring performances in New York’s Metropolitan Opera and at Carnegie Hall in addition to the Washington Opera. She appears regularly with world-class orchestras around the nation and has enjoyed more than a quarter century of professional engagements.

Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser – A Czechoslavakian who fled the encroaching Nazi invasion and settled in Mobile, she founded the Mobile Opera in 1946, one of the first 16 companies in the nation, and led it for the next 25 years.

James Reese Europe – Born in Mobile, Europe was not only a member of the first jazz band to play in Carnegie Hall, but would later lead bands that established jazz as a blues-based departure from ragtime. Europe also provided the soundtrack when the foxtrot became a national dance craze and his U. S. Army band spread jazz to European shores during World War I as he became one of the first African-American officers to receive field commendations.

Charles “Cootie” Williams – This Mobile-born trumpeter played jazz with Duke Ellington for years and became one of the most sought after horn players in the nation, in effect his era’s equivalent of Dave Navarro…without the eyeliner. Williams was lured to Benny Goodman’s orchestra then started his own band before rejoining Ellington, eventually playing a halftime show at Super Bowl IX.

Urbie Green – Trombonist Green left his Mobile hometown and took a course through the hierarchy of jazz at the height of the genre’s popularity and even landed a gig at the White House. His technique was considered impeccable as evidenced by the list of luminaries who employed his services.

Fred Wesley – This trombonist son of a Mobile high school teacher and big band leader became a pivotal member of James Brown’s band and even played with Parliament Funkadelic before returning to his jazz roots by joining the Count Basie Orchestra. His work continues to this day.

Bernard Odum – This Mobilian was a colleague of Fred Wesley’s in James Brown’s band laying down bass lines that were the backbone of Brown’s funkiest classics. He later moved on to work with jazz master Maceo Parker.

Lil Greenwood – The Prichard native was the daughter of a preacher who worked her way to the West Coast where the bluesy vocalist was discovered by Duke Ellington and worked for him for close to two decades. She later parlayed her fame into television roles in the 1970s.

Billy Bang – This Mobile-born violinist broke new ground with his free jazz explorations in the 1970s and went on to carve out a unique niche in the avant garde musical movement.

Jimmy Buffett – A Mobile native, Buffett has fashioned an international cult following for many decades with his popular songs mostly centering a mythic universe of sailboats, exotic drinks and good times.

Shelby Lynne – This country singer and songwriter hails from a small community just north of Mobile and made her mark not only by collaborating with heavy-hitters such as George Jones but also won a Grammy Award for her album, “I am Shelby Lynne.” She also appeared in the 2005 Johnny Cash bio-flick “Walk the Line.”

Allison Moorer – The younger sister of Shelby Lynne, Moorer has earned a sizable reputation in Nashville as a songwriter and performer. She was nominated for a 1999 Academy Award for her work on the soundtrack of “The Horse Whisperer.”

Wet Willie – This Mobile quintet rode a wave of mid-’70s success with a soul-infused Southern rock sound that established them in the hierarchy of the decade’s musical stars. Their breakthrough song “Keep On Smilin’” was followed with a string of Billboard-charting hits.

Ray Sawyer of Dr. Hook – This Chickasaw native fronted a combo whose seminal hit “On the Cover of the Rolling Stone” landed them the very publicity they satirized. They seized the opportunity and regularly put songs on the charts throughout the 1970s.

Now, explain to me why Mobile doesn’t have a Music Hall of Fame.

The Port City has other pantheons. In 1987, a Sports Hall of Fame was begun that now boasts of close to 80 names, some who will live forever worldwide or nationwide and others that simply have local relevance. It has no physical presence but still receives a fair amount of publicity and acclaim with its yearly inductions.

Why then can’t we at least match it with a salute to what is most arguably the most permeating art form of our modern lifestyles and the contributions our natives have made to such? Not everyone collects art, watches dance or the stage, but almost everyone enjoys music of some form or another.

A Mobile Music Hall of Fame would be a wonderful way to highlight something other than magnolias and MoonPies and let visitors see the contributions the Azalea City has made to lives far beyond our local shores.

Or is this too simple and obvious?

Giving and getting

The holiday season has pounced once again. Before you load up and head to the malls’ maelstrom or click your computer mouse and send your money out of town, do something that can please everyone: invest in local art for your gifts.

A journey into area galleries can deliver unique treasures that will continue to give beauty and memories for a lifetime. While some prices might be mildly daunting, most showplaces will gladly work out payment plans. Other times, diligence can indeed find that precarious balance between quality and price, just do a little digging and be patient.

Buying from local galleries not only keeps your money in the local economy, it helps two entrepreneurs-the gallery owner and the artist-and reflects a thoughtfulness that will be appreciated.

Just make sure to tactfully gauge the tastes of your intended recipient. A little detective work can prevent you from bestowing a Rembrandt-inspired work on those partial to De Kooning.

There’s still one LoDa artwalk scheduled before Christmas, so use the chance before it’s too late.

Kevin Lee is Lagniappe associate editor. Contact him at klee@lagniappemobile.com.

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